The Berzin Archives

You are here:

Tibetan Glossary of Buddhist Terms

This glossary is only a partial list of technical terms found on the pages of the website. From
time to time, as work progresses on the glossary project, new terms will be added to the list.
Sanskrit equivalents for Tibetan terms have been provided only for select terms and all diacritical
marks for transliterated Sanskrit have been omitted, for ease of display on all browsers.

Choose one of the letters below to see the glossary entries that start with this letter:

Something that derives from a disturbing emotion or attitude, or is related in some way with a disturbing emotion or attitude. According to Vasubandhu, they give rise to further tainted phenomena; while according to Asanga, only some do that. Also translated as "mixed with confusion. Some translators render this term as "contaminated."

J. Hopkins' translation: "contaminated."

zag-bcas kyi phung-po

tainted aggregates

The five aggregate factors of experience that derive from a disturbing emotion or attitude, or are related in some with a disturbing emotion or attitude. Some translators render the term as "contaminated aggregates."

zag-med

untainted

Skt: anashrava

Something that does not derive from a disturbing emotion or attitude, or is not related in any way with a disturbing emotion or attitude. Also translated as "unmixed with confusion" or "dissociated from confusion." Many translators render this term as "uncontaminated."

J. Hopkins' translation: "uncontaminated."

zag-med-kyi phung-po

untainted aggregates

Aggregate factors of someone's experience that do not include the causes that will obtain for that being any further samsaric rebirths.

zag-pa zad-pa'i mngon-shes

advanced awareness of the depletion of tainted factors

One of the six types of advanced awareness gained as a byproduct of the attainment of an actual state of the first level of mental constancy (the first dhyana). Cognition of one's own state of being rid forever of the emotional obscurations preventing liberation from samsara.

zang-thal

all-permeating

The quality of rigpa (pure awareness) that it interpenetrates and pervades all instances of limited awareness (sem) without obstruction, in the same manner as oil permeates sesame seeds.

J. Hopkins' translation: "unhindered."

zang-zing

upsetting

A way of being aware of something that shares five congruent features with craving for one's own tainted, obtainer aggregate factors of experience.

Advice on how to practice meditation, emphasizing the quintessential points.

zhen-pa

conceptually cling

In the context of a conceptual cognition, a category's implying an actual object that corresponds to it, as if the category were attached to that "conceptually implied object." Also translated as "conceptually imply."

The object about which a conceptual cognition gives rise to a universal, a category, or a mental label through which to think of it. Literally, the object on which a concept clings. Also called: implied object or conceptually implied object.

J. Hopkins' translation: "conceived object."

zhe-sdang

hostility

Skt: dvesha

A subcategory of anger: anger directed primarily, although not exclusively, at limited beings. One of the three poisonous emotions and attitudes. See: anger.

J. Hopkins' translation: "hatred."

zhe-sdang med-pa

imperturbability

Skt: advesha

The constructive mental factor of not wishing to cause harm in response to limited beings (sentient beings), one's own suffering, or situations entailing suffering that may arise from either of the two or which may simply be the situations in which the suffering occurs. Sometimes translated as "non-anger."

J. Hopkins' translation: "non-hatred."

zhi-gnas

stilled and settled state of mind

Skt: shamatha

A state of mind, attained through meditation, in which the mind is stilled of all mental flightiness and mental dullness, is settled down on an object and remains there, and is accompanied by an exhilarating sense of fitness. Also called a "serenely stilled and settled state of mind," "shamatha." Some translators render the term as "calm abiding" or "mental quiescence."

J. Hopkins' translation: "calm abiding."

zhi-gnas

zhinay

See: stilled and settled state of mind

J. Hopkins' translation: "calm abiding."

zhig-pa

previously-having-perished

The past occurrence of something, equivalent to the no-longer-happening of something. According to Gelug Sautrantika, Chittamatra, and Svatantrika-Madhyamaka, a static nonimplicative negation phenomenon; according to Gelug Prasangika, a nonstatic implicative negation phenomenon. Also translated as "passed-happening."

A pair of items, joined inseparably, in which the initial attainment of both items occurs simultaneously. Sometimes used as a general term whether the initial attainment of both items occurs simultaneously or sequentially.